Storm Watch and Act PREPARE TO TAKE SHELTER - PARTS OF MIDWEST GASCOYNE, GOLDFIELDS MIDLANDS, PERTH METROPOLITAN, SOUTH WEST, UPPER GREAT SOUTHERN, LOWER SOUTH WEST AND GREAT SOUTHERN.
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The following alert has been issued by
the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
Please note a change to what to do messaging. Emergency services are receiving a high volume of requests for assistance due to storm impacts. Requests are being assessed and prioritised based on risk to life and safety. Rarely experienced winds may bring down trees, branches and powerlines and may cause loose items and debris to become airborne.
Time of issue:
09:15 PM
Date of issue:
31 May 2026
Storm Watch and Act - PREPARE TO TAKE SHELTER - parts of MIDWEST GASCOYNE, GOLDFIELDS MIDLANDS, PERTH METROPOLITAN, SOUTH WEST, UPPER GREAT SOUTHERN, LOWER SOUTH WEST and GREAT SOUTHERN.
A Storm Watch and Act is current for parts of MIDWEST GASCOYNE, GOLDFIELDS MIDLANDS, PERTH METROPOLITAN, SOUTH WEST, UPPER GREAT SOUTHERN, LOWER SOUTH WEST and GREAT SOUTHERN.
You need to act now and stay safe, with damaging to destructive winds expected this afternoon and evening. Rarely experienced winds may bring down trees, branches and powerlines and loose items or debris may become airborne.
Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Katanning, Manjimup, Merredin, Moora, Narrogin, Norseman, Perth, Busselton, Mandurah, Margaret River, Mount Barker and Northam.
WHAT TO DO
- Be prepared to stay indoors when the storm hits.
- Close your curtains and blinds and stay inside, away from windows.
- Pack away, secure or tie down outdoor furniture, trampolines and other loose items around your home that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds.
- Ensure your emergency kit is complete. For more information about preparing, visit emergency.wa.gov.au/prepare (https://emergency.wa.gov.au/prepare)
- Ensure pets and animals are in a safe area.
- Move vehicles under cover and away from trees, if safe to do so.
- Campers should move to an area away from trees, powerlines, stormwater drains and streams.
- Charge devices such as mobile phones in case of power outages.
- If you are outside, find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, stormwater drains and streams.
- Take extra care when travelling. Strong winds may cause localised debris to be blown onto roads and pathways with little warning. Watch for fallen branches, loose materials and other hazards.
- If you are on the road, slow down, drive to the conditions and watch for fallen trees, fallen powerlines, debris and water over roads.
- Never walk, drive, ride, swim or play in floodwaters as they are dangerous.
- Be careful of fallen powerlines. They are dangerous and should always be treated as live.
Storm Watch and Act - STAY INDOORS - parts of COTTESLOE
A three-storey apartment building on Hawkstone Street, Cottesloe has sustained significant roof damage. There is a risk additional roofing material and debris could become airborne in strong winds.
WHAT TO DO
People near Hawkstone Street, Cottesloe should:
- Take shelter indoors if you are in the vicinity of Hawkstone Street
- Stay away from windows and external doors
- Not enter damaged buildings or cordoned-off areas
- Avoid Hawkstone Street and surrounding areas
- Follow directions from emergency services personnel
- Be aware that additional roofing material and debris may become airborne without warning
- Avoid the area and use alternative routes if travelling nearby.
Storm Watch and Act - STAY INDOORS - parts of BUNBURY and SOUTH BUNBURY
A damaged roof on a multi-storey apartment building may become dislodged and create dangerous airborne debris.
WHAT TO DO
People near Williams Street between Beach Road and Kingia Street, Bunbury should:
- Take shelter indoors if you are within the affected area
- Stay away from windows and external doors
- Not enter the damaged building or surrounding exclusion zones
- Avoid Williams Street between Beach Road and Kingia Street
- Follow directions from emergency services personnel
- Be aware that roof sheeting and other debris may become airborne without warning
- Avoid the area and use alternative routes if travelling nearby.
Storm Advice - MONITOR CONDITIONS - parts of MIDWEST GASCOYNE.
A Storm Advice is current for an area between Kalbarri and Jurien Bay in parts of MIDWEST GASCOYNE.
You need to act now and stay safe, with damaging to destructive winds forecast this afternoon and evening. Monitor conditions when the storm hits.
WHAT TO DO
- Pack away, secure or tie down outdoor furniture, trampolines and other loose items around your home that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds.
- Prepare an emergency kit with a radio that runs off batteries, a torch, spare batteries and a first aid kit.
- Review your plan and make sure everyone in your household knows what to do. If you do not have a plan, make one now on Emergency WA (https://emergency.wa.gov.au/plan) or in the Emergency WA app (https://emergency.wa.gov.au/app/plan) .
- Trim branches around your home to prevent them falling on your roof or car.
- Clear gutters and downpipes so they do not overflow after heavy rain.
- Boat owners should securely moor their boats
You may become isolated so you need to:
- Have enough canned food and water to last five to seven days, as well as any medications or baby supplies that you may need.
- Keep important documents such as identification and insurance papers safe.
- Fill your vehicle's fuel tank.
STORM DETAILS
At 4:44 pm WST on Sunday 31 May 2026, the Bureau of Meteorology advised Damaging to destructive winds becoming likely across the South West Land Division from this afternoon.
Weather Situation: A deepening and intense low pressure system will approach the southwest today and will bring a significant burst of damaging to destructive winds to western and southern parts of the South West Land Division. By Monday the low pressure system is expected to move to the east with the risk of damaging winds shifting towards southeastern WA, before easing overnight Monday night.
Widespread damaging westerly winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with gusts to 110 km/h are likely over western parts of the South West Land Division from this Sunday afternoon and continuing into early Monday morning. Destructive wind gusts in excess of 125 km/h are likely over an area southwest of a line from Lancelin to Albany, including Perth, during Sunday afternoon and evening.
The risk of damaging winds will shift from the west coast to inland parts of the South West Land Division, and to southern Goldfields, South East Coastal and Eucla districts during Monday, clearing from Perth and western districts before sunrise on Monday, then easing in the east on Monday night.
The winds associated with the low-pressure system from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning are expected to generate rarely experienced, widespread and damaging to destructive conditions across southwest WA.
A separate warning for damaging surf and abnormally high tides is also current for parts of the coast. For more details, refer to the Bureau of Meteorology warnings and alerts.
- 124 km/h wind gust was recorded at Cape Leeuwin at 4:23pm.
- 111 km/h wind gust was recorded at Busselton Jetty at 2:30pm.
- 110 km/h wind gust was recorded at Cape Naturaliste at 8:10am.
- 102 km/h wind gust was recorded at Rottnest Island at 10:07am.
- 98 km/h wind gust was recorded at Garden Island at 2:54pm.
- 98 km/h wind gust was recorded at Gooseberry Hill at 1:28pm.
- 98 km/h wind gust was recorded at Swanbourne at 12:09pm.
- 98 km/h wind gust was recorded at Bickley at 10:22am.
- 96 km/h wind gust was recorded at Witchcliffe at 4:33pm.
- 96 km/h wind gust was recorded at Mandurah at 9:36am.
- 94 km/h wind gust was recorded at Dwellingup at 3:43pm.
- 94 km/h wind gust was recorded at Jandakot at 12:50pm.
- 91 km/h wind gust was recorded at Melville at 1:09pm.
A separate warning for damaging surf and abnormally high tides is also current for parts of the coast. For more details, refer to https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts (https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts)
ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS
Some roads may be closed.
If you are on the road, slow down, drive to the conditions and watch for fallen trees, fallen powerlines, debris and water over roads. Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by visiting the Main Roads Travel Map (https://travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Home/Map) , calling 138 138 (tel:138138) or by contacting your Local Government Authority.
WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING
- DFES is monitoring the situation.
POWER
As at 5pm more than 30,000 customers across the network are currently without power in the Metropolitan and South West regions. Impacted customers are in the South West (including Donnybrook, Balingup, Bunbury, Augusta and surrounds), and Perth metropolitan (including Yanchep, Langford, Ferndale, Hamilton Hill, Gosnells and Stoneville and surrounds).
Western Power emergency response crews are working to address more than 160 hazards and outages caused by severe storm conditions.
The damaging and destructive winds associated with the storm front have thrown debris, including tree branches, into the network damaging equipment and bringing down powerlines.
We have restored thousands of customers throughout the day but as the storm front continues, numbers may climb as damage is reported.
There are further damaging and destructive winds forecast throughout the evening, and we recommend affected customers prepare for extended outages with many customers expected to be without power overnight.
Our priority is responding to reported hazards to ensure the safety of the community and our crews. Due to the severe weather and dangerous winds, our crews cannot currently undertake repair works as it is unsafe to operate equipment like elevated work platforms or conduct network patrols via helicopter.
We're communicating with impacted customers via SMS on updates including estimated restoration times and response efforts.
As numbers are fluctuating, for the latest information, visit https://www.westernpower.com.au/outages/ (https://www.westernpower.com.au/outages/)
If you come across fallen powerlines:
Stay 8m away and make the safe call to Western Power on the emergency 24/7 number 13 13 51 so emergency response crews can attend the hazard and make the area safe
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE (RFA)
- DFES has received 511 SES requests for assistance as a result of the severe weather, with the highest number of reports coming from the Perth metropolitan area, followed by Peel, the South West and the Lower South West.
- Requests have been received across a wide area, including Wembley, Kallaroo, Morley and Palmyra in the metropolitan area, as well as Capel, Australind and Collie in the South West.
- Most requests are for roof damage, water ingress, fallen trees, structural damage and localised flooding.
- DFES and SES crews are prioritising jobs where there is a risk to life or property. They are responding as conditions allow, with damaging winds continuing in some areas, which may affect how quickly crews can safely attend.
SUPPORT INFORMATION
- If it is safe to do so, the community are asked to do what they can to help themselves before calling the SES for assistance.
- If your home has been badly damaged by a storm, call the SES on 132 500.
- In a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000).
- Please note the SES does not assist with fallen fences. Please contact your insurer for assistance with fences.
- After a storm, SES volunteers make temporary repairs to homes that have been badly damaged, such as roofs that have been ripped off or large fallen trees on homes or cars. Please contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs.
KEEP UP TO DATE
- Visit Emergency WA (https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/) or download the Emergency WA app from the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/au/app/emergency-wa/id6738075801/) or Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.gov.wa.dfes.emergencywa) .
- Call 13 DFES (13 3337 (tel:133337) ).
- Follow DFES on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/dfeswa/) .
- Listen to ABC Local Radio (https://reception.abc.net.au/) , 6PR, or news bulletins.
During a power outage, your home phone, computer or other electronic devices connected to the NBN will not work. Include a battery powered radio in your emergency kit.
Updates will be provided when the situation changes.
END
Media Contact: DFES Media on 9395 9543.
Source: https://emergency.wa.gov.au/warnings/6a1aae996a385ab771fd4744 May 31, 2026, 09:15 PM